“I felt like he was the only one who understood my dynamics and what I was dealing with and what I was going through.” Carmelo Anthony only spent two seasons alongside Allen Iverson, but it was enough for him to learn from the legend. Similarly, Jrue Holiday made his debut for the 76ers and it turned out to be AI’s final year. Yet, he has cherished those memories, especially since he had 2 more players to look up to.

“Then going up against guys like Lou Will and Andre where like Andre, they were on the low calling him AI at that point. Like he was one of the best in-game dunkers that I’ve ever seen.” On the Paul George podcast, the Celtics guard highlighted the impact of Lou Williams and Andre Iguodala during his initial years with the Philadelphia franchise. “Going up against guys like that honestly bro, it just made me fearless going against everybody else because I saw it every day in practice.”

Even though Lou Williams played for 17 years in the league, not many appreciate the 38-year-old. And that’s what Holiday exactly did during the podcast. “For sure, Lou will all the time, and people ask me if I learned a lot from Lou because Lou knew how to score from all three levels. I don’t think he showed his athleticism like what he had. Like bro, Lou would dunk on you if he really wanted to.” But that season didn’t turn out the way fans wanted it to.

After the acquisition of the 2x NBA Champion as the #17 overall pick, plus the addition of Allen Iverson, there were hopes from the fans. However, the season finished with a 27-55 record, which also had a 12-game losing streak from November to December. Iguodala was the top scorer for the season and Williams followed him in the second place. Despite being a rookie, Jrue Holiday started 51 games and was second from shooting beyond the arc (39%).

Plus, he was 4th on the roster for assists per game (3.8) and steals per game (1.1). Allen Iverson started in only 24 games and left the team in February to attend to his then-four-year-old daughter Messiah’s health issues. That turned out to be the last time where AI donned the 76ers jersey. Despite the failure of the team in that season, Jrue highly about his former teammates.

Not the first time the 34-year-old acknowledged Allen Iverson and Co.’s impact

Last month, on Run it Back, Jrue Holiday summed up his rookie year experiences. “I think that’s what really made me the player I am today. Having guys like Lou, Andre Iguodala, AI, guys that showed me how to be a professional on the court and off the court.” The 2x NBA Champion explained the importance of veterans to help mold the rookies the right way.

“Honestly, just how to carry myself, I think the work ethic was always there but you know coming in young, I think it’s detrimental to have veterans who can show you the right way to work.” That’s even recently on the Podcast P, Jrue Holiday only had positive things to say about his former teammates.

That’s why even Iguodala once hyped up the Celtics guard. “(Jrue Holiday) is the most underrated player of this generation. This guy’s different.” Those tough battles during training surely helped Holiday become one of the important pieces not just for the Celtics. But also for the National team’s success earlier this year in Paris.